The SIP Invite - Personal Archivestag:blog.tmcnet.com,2012-04-09:/sip-invite//432012-01-05T20:01:43ZObservations by Alan D. Percy on VoIP enabling technology, industry and our personal reach for success.Verizon FiOS TV - Part IItag:blog.tmcnet.com,2008:/sip-invite//43.381412008-11-01T20:32:23Z2012-01-05T20:01:43ZAlan Percyhttp://audiocodes.comOkay, it has been a few weeks since the last post on my FiOS installation and I promised you a review of the newly activated television capabilities.

InstallationFiOS TV is installed pretty much like any other cable TV with one big exception - Fiberoptics cable from the central office to the Optical Network Terminator (ONT) in my basement. From there, it is standard RJ-6 cable-TV coax cable to each of the Motorola Set Top Boxes (STBs). The data traffic from the STBs goes over the same coax, avoiding a separate Ethernet and/or phone line run to each box (which was required for DirecTV). The installer was able to re-use the existing wiring in my house, which dramatically simplified installation. Score: A+

Channel SelectionThe channel selection on FiOS TV is actually pretty good, with a wide array of the normal cable channels and all our local channels. The SD and HD versions of the channels are both available, but at different channel numbers (add 500 for the HD version, which is a little annoying) Score: A

Picture QualityThe picture so far has been good (HD channels are awesome), but not perfect - we occasionally get drop-outs and pixelization. It won't be affected by rain/snow, so that's better than the DirecTV, but the picture quality is about the same. It's way better than my neighbor's Time Warner cable. Score: B+

Set Top Box (non-DVR)I have two Standard Definition TVs in the house that have the basic non-DVR STB. Seems to work as you would expect, and there are a few cool "widgets" like real-time weather and some games that can be played on the TV. Score: A

Remote ControlFirst the good - it comes with a remote. Otherwise, whoever designed this remote, must have never actually used it. There are some real bone-head button positioning and/or missing buttons. Example: want to go to a specific channel to a one-digit channel? You punch in the number, then look around for an enter or okay button - oh there it is, in the middle of the four way direction buttons. Dumb. Watching a movie and start fast forward past the commercials, then hit play, oops the DVR button is right next to Play and guess what happens? It kicks you out of the movie and to the DVR menu! It does have one power button that can control both the STB, receiver and TV, but it has only one button for both on and off. If one of the devices missed the IR command, everything gets messed up and you have to either get out of your chair and push the power button on the device that missed the command or go through a series of selecting that device and hitting the power button again to get it back in sync. Try explaining that to your wife! It seems like the remote was designed for the SD STB without a DVR, then they added some buttons for the DVR, but didn't really think it through very well. Someone at Motorola needs to toss this design in the trash and start over. Score: F

Pay-per-View / On Demand ViewWe've watched a number of either PPV or OD programs and the selection is a nice addition to the stuff that we normally would record on the DVR. The nicest part of the OD programming is when you want to go back to an old episode of a show or forget to record it. Some of the PPV and OD is HD too, but only a small sub-set. The menus to find programs and search is are pretty confusing - so much that my wife has not yet figured it out. Score: B+

DVRThis is where the wheels come off Verizon FiOS TV. (I had really high hopes too) Let's just put it this way: it's a good thing the DVR service is free the first year, otherwise this would be back in a box back on the way to Verizon. The Motorola HD DVR QIP 7216 is so full of bugs and other odd issues that is borders on fraud by asking someone to pay for this. I noted in the last posting about how the optical audio output doesn't come on until you go to a menu to activate it (after every power-on), but the bugs continue and they are far worse. It records programs that it can't playback. It gets confused about the live TV feed and DVR playback. It gets stuck and requires a power cycle to regain control. It Crashes. You name it and it does it (or doesn't do it). It's not just me either - after talking to some neighbors, they are all suffering the same issues. Score: F-

ValueIgnoring the above just for a second - I can see how Verizon FiOS Triple Bundle could be a reasonable value. Internet, phone and TV at one reasonable price. But the DVR issues kill it. Also - FiOS suffers from what I call "bundle shock" - when you combine all three things on one bill, the total cost really shocks you. "I pay that much for communications?!?" (By the way, It's still cheaper to use Vonage for your phone.) Score: B

What's NextI've heard that you can use an HD Tivo with FiOS and I'm researching what I need to order to give that a try. Initial searching found that I can order CableCards from Verizon and plug them into the back of a HD TiVo. I just need to figure out how to order both parts (and get permission from my wife to buy the Tivos.)

Final Thoughts on FiOS Triple BundleThe Internet is awesome - really fast and a good value. The phone service is still kind of pricey, but it sounds and works great - I just wish it had the on-line control that our Vonage service has (and comparable pricing). The TV service is okay if you don't want a DVR - otherwise it's a let-down. Final Score: C

Once I get the TiVo installed and working, I'll post another report. Until then, I have an adapation of a Dire Straights song stuck in my head: "I want my, I want my DirecTV"]]>
Verizon Fios - an updatetag:blog.tmcnet.com,2008:/sip-invite//43.379872008-10-17T12:16:29Z2008-10-17T13:29:26ZOkay, time to update you on how my migration over to Verizon Fios has gone so far.Just a little background on the situation here: I work primarily from my home office in Orchard Park, NY in a neighborhood that was...Alan Percyhttp://audiocodes.comOkay, time to update you on how my migration over to Verizon Fios has gone so far.

Just a little background on the situation here: I work primarily from my home office in Orchard Park, NY in a neighborhood that was built in the mid-70's (pre cable and definitely pre- fiber-to-the-home aka FTTH). When moving in seven years ago, I had then-Adelphia cable broadband, Verizon wireline phone and DirecTV for television. A bit of a mish-mash of disconnected parts, but it worked (most of the time).

Here in snow country, we regularly lost DirecTV due to ice and snow on the dish.

The long cable run between my house and the nearest telephone pole causes problems with the broadband internet incurring day-long outages that seemed to stymie Adelphia.

The aging analog phone lines I used for both my wife's and my home office were noisy, which interfered with our frequent long conference calls and webinars.

To save money on the infrequently-used home phone I switched it over to Vonage about a year ago, which I must say has worked out really well.

Installation started with broadband internet and two phone lines. This went pretty smooth with mounting the Optical Network Termination (ONT) in the basement and a WiFi-enabled router. Cut-over to the new 20Mbps broadband was literally as easy as moving an RJ-45 plug from one router to the other. Frankly the hardest part was untangling all the old wires and moving them to the new router! After a reboot of the computers in the house and the Vonage gateway, everything was back up and running.

Getting the phone lines configured correctly took a couple calls to Verizon. I have my office line forward to my cell phone after three rings or if I'm on the phone and it took a couple support reps to understand how to configure the new switch correctly. End result after one day - faster internet, no more noise on the phone lines and everything is working perfect.

It took a couple calls to get the guys to come back and bury the fiber-optic cable that laid across my lawn. Frankly, it was a race between my 13 year-old son that mows our lawn and the Verizon crew. Was my son going to mow over the cable and cut it to shreds or was Verizon going to bury it first? Fortunately, Verizon won.

Remember that I was on DirecTV? I loved the service and the new HD DVR, but we were averaging $85/month and still suffering from weather-related outages. So when I caught wind that the town of Orchard Park finally signed the franchise agreement with Verizon to allow them to offer FiosTV, guess who called Verizon the same day to order Fios TV service? Me.

Installation day for the TV started with a really nice technician surveying the coax TV cabling that already ran through my house and making a few quick additions for Fios. He was able to add a splitter next to the entry point where the four DirecTV cables came from the dish outside and headed out to the three different rooms where we had TVs. All the old DirecTV set top boxes were pulled out and set aside with new Motorola devices going in their place. Lots of cables for our HD TV and audio system in the family room - component video, optical audio (5.1) connects between the DVR and my audio receiver. One surprising connection was between the TV cable and a coax jack on the back of the router - I later found out that the STBs use this to access the program guide information and relay purchases back to Verizon. End of this day - and the TVs all worked and I was ready to figure out the new Motorola set top boxes and DVR features.

Now things get interesting.....

Later that same evening, I turn on the TV, DVR and audio system to find a great picture, but no sound. Okay, what changed? Cables are all okay and my receiver is showing the optical input is active, but still no sound!?! Go to the DVR and start digging through menus - settings - sound - all of a sudden the sound comes back. But I didn't change anything!?! Weird. Next time the DVR gets turned on, same result. Okay this is screwy. After doing some trial and error, I find out that upon power-up, the DVR doesn't activate the optical output for sound, you need to go to the menu each time to activate it. Bug! Unplug the optical cable on the audio system and live with just stereo sound for now.

Next day - the STB in the basement shows all dashes on the screen and no picture. Now what? Unplug, reboot, call Verizon and they send out a technician. Remember that splitter in the basement? One of the ports died. It took him most of an hour to find a .99 broken splitter.

So at this point, I've had three separate visits from Verizon techs and finally have almost everything working, but still learning the ins and outs of the new DVR and STBs. More on this in the next posting.....

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Keeping in Touchtag:blog.tmcnet.com,2008:/sip-invite//43.360562008-05-05T18:42:06Z2008-05-05T18:48:29ZAlan Percyhttp://audiocodes.com
With that, I'm making a promise to get regular weekly messages on this blog, keeping you informed of new developments in SIP and the market.

Staying in touch.....]]>
Weak dollar harming economy - not in Buffalotag:blog.tmcnet.com,2008:/sip-invite//43.355922008-03-13T16:48:46Z2008-05-09T01:39:35ZAlan Percyhttp://audiocodes.com
This story is about unintended consequences - most notably how the weak US Dollar affects those of us that live on the border with Canada.

This last week has been particularly difficult for those of us who are frequent travelers out of the Buffalo Airport. It's seems the perfect storm has hit the Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF) and it really messed up my travel plans earlier this week:

#1 - This last weekend we received a good 12+ inches of fresh snow (the skiing was awesome), which even snow-hardened Buffalonians can find a pain-in-the-neck when it comes to getting around town. Unfortunately, piled up snow takes up valuable parking spaces.

#2 - It marked the start of "Spring Break" weekend for most of the local colleges and public schools in Canada.

#3 - Our neighbors to the north who have new buying power, have figured out my little secret.

It seems that an article in the Toronto Star last summer tipped off my Canadian neighbors about the inexpensive flights and easy access in and out of the Buffalo Airport. If you've ever flow out of Toronto's Pearson Airport, you know how expensive and difficult travel is for most Southern Ontario residents. With Buffalo only 90 miles down the QEW, the lure of lower fares and access to JetBlue and Southwest Airlines has created a new North-to-South migration path. The result? Full parking lots, very long security lines, and jammed-to-the-gills flights.

While I appreciate the new travelers will bring with them their loonies to spend here in Western New York and wherever their destination takes them, I still miss my airport. Parking close to the terminal and the predictability of normally short security lines are now distant memories.

I thought the "International" in Buffalo Niagara International Airport was referring to the occasional charter flights to Mexico, not the license plates in the parking lot.

Back to work....

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A look back at 2007 and thinking ahead to 2008tag:blog.tmcnet.com,2007:/sip-invite//43.345042007-12-20T22:04:45Z2008-05-09T01:39:35ZA couple recognitions from the last 12 months: AudioCodes' Break Free Campaign (see: www.audiocodes.com/breakfree) - way back in early summer, we were on a conference bridge discussing how to create some new activity with the application developer community, trying to...Alan Percyhttp://audiocodes.comA couple recognitions from the last 12 months:

AudioCodes' Break Free Campaign (see: www.audiocodes.com/breakfree) - way back in early summer, we were on a conference bridge discussing how to create some new activity with the application developer community, trying to show them how they could abandon their legacy APIs and make the move to SIP+MSCML for their new applications. We devised a plan that included a combination of web-based advertising, webinars and live speaking slots to introduce the concept and show some specific example applications. With the fantastic help of the Marcom team at AudioCodes, TMC, Paracon and Alliance Systems we blew the lid off our original plan, making by far the most successful community development program that I have ever experienced. For those that have participated, there is much more to come next year!

During 2007 I celebrated my 6th anniversary at AudioCodes - the longest I have worked for any one company - something must be going right.

If you know me, you know that outside work I'm deeply involved in Boy Scouts and a wide range of outdoor activities with my two sons. This year, my oldest son David completed his Eagle Scout rank - the first ever in our family. We're very proud of him and look forward to seeing him soar like an Eagle when he heads to college in 2008.

Looking ahead:

In January I'm headed to Jerusalem for the AudioCodes Global Channel Partner Conference. We're bringing together some of our best channels, ISVs and VARs for three days of networking and collaboration. I'm also looking forward to seeing many of my co-workers and partners face to face - it's been a while. The old city has captivated me since my first visit a couple years ago. The history found in Jerusalem is just incredible.

Spring Trade show season - January to March - while sometimes I dread the time away from home, I always look forward to the "buzz" that comes from spending time around the rest of the industry. I learn more and make more progress in this time than any other part of the year. Internet Telephony, VON, VoiceCon... here I come.

My crystal ball

Social Networking will leave the universities - after spending some time on MySpace and Facebook, now I get it. Social networking is to email and IM what the telephone was to postal mail. Now the challenge is to make the application "fit" the adult world - too much of Facebook was designed around college kids and doesn't recognize the complex networks that adults work within. College kids have a relatively "flat" network of friends and the applications need work before adults will be willing to expose themselves like young adults.

Video - going beyond YouTube? Like many of you, I was a little caught off gaurd by the web-based video streaming application and it's popularity. Beyond the goofly little humor skits and music videos, it's application in marketing, training and product demonstrations has shown real commercial value. But will real-time video (not streaming) take off? It looks like we still have some work to go on this front.

Blade Servers will finally take off in telecom - after spending the year working in this space, it's clear to me now that many of the applications for telecom are perfect fit for blade servers including IBM's BladeCenter and other offerings from HP, Dell... Few carriers can afford nor need the expensive redundancy found in ATCA or proprietary hardware. Look for MicroTCA to be successful, but for ATCA, I think the game is already over.

Broadband for all - as you read in last week's entry, I feel strongly that we need to do more to connect the rest of America to the internet, giving a range of business and social benefits for both sides. Watch for further policy changes that will encourage the wireline and wireless service providers to make the investment.

Thanks

Thanks goes out to all of you that participate in my blog, the folks at TMC for hosting and encouraging its development, my coworkers at AudioCodes for a great year, and finally my wife and kids for their support and putting up with my crazy travel schedule.

Wishing you all have a great holiday season and look forward to next year!

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Travels to LA for Internet Telephonytag:blog.tmcnet.com,2007:/sip-invite//43.335962007-09-10T13:36:50Z2008-05-09T01:39:36ZAlan Percyhttp://audiocodes.com
Sunday was a busy day flying to LA for Internet Telephony in the LA Convention Center. Flying to LA is always interesting - especially when you get upgraded and end up in first class. The guy in front of me wore his sunglasses the whole way to LA, even in the dark while nother guy was clearly with his agent reviewing scripts. (I was just catching up on my reading with a stack of BCR and VON magazines.)

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Still getting ready...tag:blog.tmcnet.com,2007:/sip-invite//43.335512007-09-06T12:13:01Z2007-09-06T12:14:16ZAlan Percyhttp://audiocodes.com
Most of us are headed to LA on Sunday and time is running out for those last minute presentation preparations. This week has included a flurry of conference calls with the various panelists, making sure that our logistics and presentations are ready.

I'm real excited about the session we are preparing on SIP Trunking:

SIP-04: “SIP Trunking From 10,000 Feet”

In discussions with the other panelists, there seems to be a general consensus that the market is really excited about the prospect, but confused and concerned about interoperability and security. We've decided to focus on those topics and really drill down on how we plan to solve those challenges.

The other session that is taking my time is the Executive Showcase - without giving away the contents of the session, I'll just let you know that my good friends Doug and Hank will revisit us (from the January 2006 keynote) to give us an update on their development projects.

Off to the airport on Sunday afternoon - see you in LA!

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Getting ready for Internet Telephonytag:blog.tmcnet.com,2007:/sip-invite//43.334622007-08-27T19:51:11Z2008-05-09T01:39:36ZAlan Percyhttp://audiocodes.com
With less than two weeks until Internet Telephony, we here at AudioCodes are putting the final touches on a number of interesting and informative sessions and we'd love to see you participate: